REGINALD "REGGIE" DANTZLER

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Chicago native REGGIE DANTZLER is the creator and driving force behind the SPECIAL FORMULA BAND. He is a MUSICIAN, PRODUCER, PROMOTER. ENTREPRENUER with energy surpassing most individuals but it all began when he was about three years old and learned to play the congas.

Though never a church musician, he managed to conjure together various talents within his community formulating bands early on. His musicianship ranged from congas to the drums at the age of 10 and shortly thereafter the bass and guitar. REGGIE used the strings fro the lead guitar on his bass guitar because he never owned a bass guitar.

REGGIE began  developing his stage presence at six years old. As odd as it seems , he and his youthful band played in clubs sometimes better than their audult counterparts, the first of which was at the Chicago Burning Spear. His band "THE GHETTO BAND" or as some called them the "39TH STREET GEHTTO BAND" performed behind the curtains because they were underage. These performances allowed him and his bandmates to earn small incomes to help not only their families, but also others in their communuity who were in need.

Reggies band would play for the whole neighborhood because bringing others togethers was his greatest desire. It was always his intent to provide for others, whether it was assisting in holiday gifts (food,Bikes, etc.) and talent expression. He and his mother, Celest, cultivated the youth in their community. Celest was a dancer and influential choreographer. She formed the DANTZLERS, a group of young dancers in the community  The group would eventually be called the DANCETTES which performs up to this day.

Soon he and his band would be found in local competitions.These top-tier comepititions exculded traditional elementary and high school contests because their abilities were such that they sounded as though they were adults.REGGIE's band participated in televised programs such as THE DANNY O'DAILY radio show, and participated in a talent show. His band won by a landside even though it included a band from Gary , Indiana known as THE JACKSON FIVE. Othe television and radio personalities that covered REGGIE'S band were the WVLN crew, Billie Butterball Crain, Herb Kent the cool Gent,and Richard Pagee. His band was in such demand and they performed at major venues such as the IDA B WELLS FIELD HOUSE (Where the Jackson 5 had previously  performed) THE HAWAIIAN HOUSE, and THE BURNING SPEAR which was the best theater in the city.

Additionally, he and his cousin MARSHALL were a dynamic duo, which allowed them to play for MICHAEL HARRIS, former trupeT PLAYER for EARTH WIND AND FIRE.

His stepfather served in the US Navy and he moved his family to Key West, Florida in 1969 and then to Dahlgren, VA a year later. His family moved to Jacksonville , FL where he would resume his musical ventures. In fact he would begin writing songs in the early 80's.Reggie and his cousin played for a band that would lead REGGIE to being sought after by ERNEST DAVIS, JR., a local trombonist. Their musical bond stands to this day. He and Ernest were in a band called GRIP. It was an up and coming band whose efforts stopped abrubtly after a business deal went awry. At this point REGGIE stopped playing guitar in public for 20 years, nuetralizing his stage presence, Nevertheless his connection to music continued.

REGGIE'S professional wherewithal would abound and he started two businesses.POWER STATION RECORDING STUDIO and DANTZLER AUDIO. His first recording studio was originally i his mother's house. TRIGEN ENTERTAINMENT was founded in 2010 along with the band of which he is currently director. His sound team worked with some of the best known to R&B, SOUL, JAZZ and HIP HOP such as EARTH WIND AND FIRE, ZAP, CONFUCTION, MONTEL JORDAN, CISCO, REDMAN METHODMAN, JEEZY, ANTHONEY HAMILTON, ISLEY BROTHERS, WHISPERS, JONATHAN BUTLER, O'JAYS, SHEILA E, SHIRLEY MURDOCK, ANGELA WINBUSH,STYLISTICTS, TEMPTATIONS, CHARLIE WILSON, CARL CARLTON, LAKESIDE, SLAVE, TONI, TONY,TONE', KLIMAXX, K MICHELLE, STEPHANIE MILLS, SIR CHARLES JONES, TK SOUL, BISHOP BULL WINKLE, TUCKER, JEFF FLOYD, SHIRLEY BROWN, BETTY WRIGHT SOUTHSIDE CHURCH OF GOD in christ and many, many more. ironically, he and the SPECIAL FORMULA BAND would share the stage with some of these same artists.

several people asked REGGIE to start a band even though he only played the guitar in the studio for artists. After careful consideration and sicerity, RUSSELL BROWN urged REGGIE to get back on the guitar and back on the stage. Hence THE SPECIAL FORMULA BAND  was born. Fellow musicians, RUSSELL BROWN, MARIO CROSS, SIMEON MCROY, ROBIN DAVIS  and EARNEST DAVIS, JR. would be pioneers of the band.

The SFB is a riviting group, wowing onlookers and intimidating some of the best musicians for some of the best artists in the industry. REGGIE and the SPECIAL FORMULA BAND has open for many acts such as the ZAPP BAND, CON FUNL SHUN, FRANKIE BEVERLY & MAZE, CHARLIE WILSON, THE ISLEY BROTHERS, LENNIE WILLIAMS, BLUE MAGIC, THE SOS BAND, GUY, NEW EDITION, JAHEIM, KEM, BEL BIV DEVO, FANTASIA, KIETH WASHINGTON  and several others.

In his career REGGIE has collaberated with numerous artists: CRIKET BROWN, JEFF FLOYD, FRANK CLEAVLAND, ERICK CARTER, COREY JOHNSON, MAURICE HENDERSON, JIMMY HILL, R&B ARTIST JOE,MIDTOWN RECORDS, TONY TROUTMAN (cousin of ROGER TROUTMAN),WILLIAM BELL, VOICE CHECK, UNISON, ALLEN AND ALLEN, (I'LL FLY AWAY), BOOKER JAMES PUBLISHING, 69 BOYS and 95 SOUTH. At current the band has it's own studio, rehersal hall and radio station THE SPECIAL FORMULA RADIO

As the director and leader of the SPECIAL FORMULA BAND, REGGIE has performed at several major venues such as the NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FESTIVAL(arguably the nations largest Jazz Festival),ZORA FEST, FUNK FEST, RICE FEST, BLUES FEST, SOULFOOD FEST, JACKSONVILLE BEACH JAZZ FEST, CLASSIC SOUL WEEKEND, PENNSYLVANIE AND JIMMY HALLOWAYS festival in New York. The list goes on. He dazzles aspiring guitarists to play, entertain the audience while playing with skill and teaches young aspiring musicians to hone in on their craft. Putting it lightly he is an ageless, living legend in the flesh.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT   REGGIE DANTZLER/SPECIAL FORMULA BAND     CONTACT US AT     EliteRadio21.4@gmail.com

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